One-piece mud guard



Jul

. ROBIN SO ON N E PIECE MUD GUA Filed Sept. 5 RD United States Patent O 3,195,921 @NE-PIECE MUD GUA Roland N. Robinson, Rte. 2W, Gnarga, lil. Filed Sept. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 306,333 6 Claims. (Cl. 28d-1545) The present invention is concerned generally with safety appliances for road vehicles, and specifically relates to an improved mud or splash guard mountable behind the rear road-wheels of such road vehicles.

Virtually all states of the Union specify that multi-axle road vehicles such as dump trucks, semi-trailers and tractors therefor must carry mud fiaps behind their rear roadwheels. These provisions are stringently enforced. In compliance with these requirements truck operators arrange on their vehicles flaps of sheet-like material which have in the past been composed of rubber or other iiexible materials. It is not uncommon to see prior art mud iiaps deliected by the wind stream when the vehicle is in motion over the road. In certain instances prior mud tiaps extend rearwardly to such a degree that their effectiveness as deflector means is materially reduced. It is questionable that the existence of this condition is in the spirit of compliance with the several statutes directed to mud aps, and accordingly certain truck fleet operators have taken steps to insure that mud flaps will not so behave. These steps have included mounting auxiliary stays behind the mud iiaps, such stays being secured to arms projecting laterally from the vehicle frame. Another scheme of reducing mud flap deflection has been to mount the flexible rubber ap to a lateral strut disposed a short distance above the road-wheels center and behind the wheel. This permits the use of a short eX- panse of tiexible material deducing to a like degree the expected deflection. However, the provision of the lateral struts entails added cost. As is obvious if these expedients could be eliminated substantial savings in equipment cost might be realized.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved splash guard when mounted on a road vehicle will resist deflection in the wind stream and maintain itself, without aid of auxiliary supports, in shielding relationship to the adjacent road-wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved splash or mud guard of laminated construction fabricated from polyester resin-reinforced fibrous glass material wherein the selection, orientation and character of the laminae contribute to a long service life of the guard.

Still another object is to provide a splash guard mountable directly on the frame of a road vehicle to depend therefrom and terminate proximate the road surface.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a splash guard mountable on the pivotally movable box of a dump rtruck or the like, the splash guard being arranged to closely confront the rear road-wheels when the vehicle is in condition for road travel, and to clear the roadwheels when the pivotable box is raised.

' A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rnud detlector formed of sheet material which is economical to manufacture, easy to install, emcient in deflector projectiles emanating from the road-wheels over a long service life.

Further objects of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the mud deflector whereby the aboveoutlined and additional operating features are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and preferred mode of use, together with further objects and advantages, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompany- Patented July Z0, 1965 ing drawing in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary, elevational view of the rear Portion of a dump truck or the like having operatively mounted thereon a mud deiiector of the present invention, there being shown in broken lines the disposition of the deflector when the truck is in position for dumping;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the mud deiiector of FG. l;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational View of the rear portion of a straight-truck or of a semi-trailer or the like having operatively mounted thereon a mud deflector of a second form of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the mud deliector of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary exploded view showing the laminae of the mud deiiector.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 2 a mud deliector 1t) of a first form of the invention, the deflector fil being fabricated of polyester resin-reinforced layers of fibrous glass material affording great strength and durability. The deiiector 10 is composed of a plurality of layers or laminae of glass fabric material, as shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, a iirst outer layer 12 is a fibrous glass mat composed of a random arrangement of line glass fibers uniformly distributed to form a thin, porous, felt-like material. A mat material having a weight of two ounces per square foot has been found, when combined with the resin to be described below, to possess equal strength in all directions, to have good dimensional stability and to be relatively lower in cost than the available Woven fabrics.

A second outer layer or lamina 14 is formed of a woven fabric of glass libers. A preferred woven fabric has a weight of two ounces per square foot and has equal strength in both directions, i.e. Woof and warp directions, to impart stiffness and rigidity to the deector 10.

The outer laminae 12, 14 are continuous over the extent of the deflector 10 while therebetween in the upper portion of the deflector 10 are a plurality of filler laminae 16 and 18, two, for example, which are formed of a fiber glass mat product similar to the mat 12. The presence of laminae 16, 18 affords an added measure of strength and rigidity to the deflector 10. More particularly, the lamina 16 extends fully across the deflector 10 and downwardly to about one-half the length thereof. The lamina 18 is coextensive of the width of the deector 19 and extends about one-third of the length of the deiiector.

The several laminae 12-18 may be bonded to one another by a technique wherein no molding pressure is required as is well understood in the art (see 1952 Modern Plastics Encyclopedia and Engineers Handbook, p. 176). More specifically, a length of the mat material composing layer 12 may be laid upon a molding surface complementary in shape to the deector 10. After the layer 12 is properly disposed on the surface, properly catalyzed and accelerated polyester resin is sprayed on in suliicient quantities so that thorough impregnation will result. Thereafter, the layer 16, properly sized, is laid over the layer 12 and again polyester resin is sprayed on. Care is taken to squeeze out the air bubbles present between the layers. Thereafter, layers 18 and 14 may be applied in similar fashion, care being taken with the application of each layer to exclude air bubbles. Since the catalyzer is room-temperature acting, no added heat or ultra-violet light is required for gelation. After a suitable period of time has elapsed, the resin will properly gell, and finally y 3 harden producing with the layers 12-18 of glass a tough sheet-like structure. v Y

Polyester resins and catalyzers used to accomplish this purpose are well known ink the art. A suitable resin Vis manufactured by the American lCyanamid Co., Plastics and Resinsl Division `of Wallingford, Connecticutpand sold under the 'trade designationmLaminac 4151.V A

suitable catalyst is manufactured by Wallace and TiernanV Inc., Lucidol Division of Buffalo, New York,l and sold y under the trade designation, Lupersol DNF.

VReferring now more yparticularly vto FG. 2 it will be seen that mud deflector 10 is generally rectangular inoutline and includes an upperrmargin 20, an'upper panel 22 and a lower panel 24. The upper margin 2li is Vequipped with a plurality kof openings 26 for receiving fasteners to facilitate attachment of the defiector l to the associated road vehicle. The reinforcement laminae 15, 13 extend 'throughout the margin 26 as well as into the upper flector 1Q is raisedfalong with the box 36. Being that the free end 25 of the lower panel'Zlt is curved rearwardly from theV general'plane, of panel 24 and the major portion of the defiector lt) is inclined rearwardly from the wheels34, the likelihood of ythe curved endportion 25 becoming entangled with the road-wheels 34 is materially reduced, as shown in FIG. l.

' A further advantage ofthe; curved lower end portion /of the panel 24'is that the freeedge of the deflector 10 Vis arranged in a plane removed from the path of projectiles propelled rearwardly by the` road-wheels 34. rl`hus, thelikelihood of the `deflector becoming broken through contact with flying projectiles is to a great degree reduced.

panel 22 thereby affording strength and stiffness to this` portion of the deflector 10.

The upper panel 22 is angularly disposed with respect v V` panel 24 curves from the general plane Yof the panel 24 and terminates in an edge approaching anormal to the general `plane of the panel 24, as shown in FIG. 2.

As above described, the outery lamina 12 is formed of fibrous glass mat material which during molding is laid directly against the molding surface which may be, for

example, a smooth surface of steel, glass, slate, marble or the like. From this it follows that the outer surface of the lamina 12 will be substantially smooth audit is contemplated that such' Vsurface of the mud guard .19y shall confront theY direction offtravel of the road vehicle to which the guard 10 lis secured. Conversely, the lamina 14 Vbeing of a woven material of glass fibers is somewhat rougher than the lamina 12 and it isV contemplated that the surface 14 shall face opposite the direction'of travel of the associated road vehicle. Y 4

In FIG. 1 there isY shown a rear portion Vof a dump truck'designated generally 3i) and including a frame 32' supported Vby rear road-wheels 34 and having pivotally mounted thereon at dump-box 36.v At the undersideV of the dump-box 36y there is disposed a laterally extending structural member 3S having a cross-sectional form yof an angle iron.` The structural memberV 38 is disposed somewhat rearwardly of road-wheels 34 and is expressly adapted while acting Vas a structural support for thejbox 1 y 36 to form a mounting provision for the mud defiector 10. Accordingly, the support Velement 38 is providedy with a plurality` of openings spaced complementary to the openings 26 for receiving fasteners 4t) to mount the deflector 10 in operative relationship with respect to the that road deposits, moisture and the'like,'ru'n freely off Y the smooth surface 12 and are not accumulated on the defiector it). Y

In FIG. 4 therev is shown the rear portion of a straighttruck orroad semi-trailer5 having a frame S2 supported by road-wheels' and carrying a cargo container 56. Included in the frame`52 is a support element 5S which extends laterally of the frame 52. Mounted to the vsupport member 58 is amud deector 60 of a second form ofthe present invention. i

As shown in FIG. 5 the mud deliec'tor 60 is'` generally Vrectangular in outline andk is'comprised of a plurality of polyester resin-reinforced laminae of arrangement similar to that of the mud defiector 10. The deiiector 60 hangs straight verticallyV with respect to the support 5S terminat- Ving a short distance, eight inches for'example, above a road surface 52. The presence of the reinforcing lamina in the upper portion of the deliector v60 servesto stiffen the deflector 1) to resist the forces from the wind stream of the vehicle Si). It has beenfound that the defiector 6l) as ,described herein will maintain-a substantially vertical shielding orientation with respectV to the road-wheels 54 over a long service life in over-the-highway use of Ythe vehicle 56; f

' the true scope and spirit of the invention.I

What is claimed is:

Vl. A mud Vdeflector for vertical 'mounting behindthe rear road-wheels yof La truck, semi-trailer, or the like corn- To achieve its principal function of deflecting particles y A posite therefrom, Vsaid front-surface beingsubstantially projected by the road-wheels 34 it Vis necessary Vthat the mud deflector i0 bey mounted'closely adjacent the road-` wheels 34, and to extend downwardly within a few inches of the road'surface 42 when thedump truck 30 is in the normal, roadrtraveling conditions, as shownby'full solid lines inV FIG. 1. f

Frequently, the dump trucky 30 is driven `while theV prising: a bondedzlaminous/ Vstructure of polyester resinreinforced fibrous glass 'material having a front surface for confronting such road-wheels anda rear surface opposite therefrom, said'front 'surface being substantially'smooth throughout and formed from a fibrous glass matrmaterial so as to afford minimum resistance to the runoff 'of liquids,

mud, or the like for obviatingthe buildup of road deposits thereon, Vsaid rear surface being 4formed front awoven fibrous glass 'materiah` said ldeiector including an upper,

i laterallyV extending margin havingan openingv therein to receive Vfastener means for attachmentof -said dellector least one reinforcing lamina of'orous glass mat material i arranged in the upper area of said mud deflector between said front and rearsurfaces Aand extending through said Vupperjn'iargin to impart strength and stiffness thereto for resisting deformation of said d eector in the wind stream. 2. A muddefiector for Vertical mounting behind the rear road-wheels of a truck, semi-trailer, or the like .cornprising:v a bonded, laminous structure ofpolyester resinreinforced fibrous glass material having a front surface forV confronting such road-wheels andra rear surface opsmooththroughout and formed from a fibrous glass mat materialso as to afford minimum resistance tothe runoff Vof liquids, mud orrthe like for obviating the buildup of road deposits thereon, said rear surface being formed from a woven fibrous glass material, said deector including an upper, laterally extending margin having an open- ,ing'therein to receive fastener meansvfor attachment of vsaid deflector in" operativeV relationship with such roadwheels, and reinforcing laminae arranged in the upper area of said mud deflector and extending through said upper margin to impart strength and stiffness thereto for resisting deformation of said detiector in the wind stream.

3. The mud deflector dened in claim 2 wherein said reinforcing laminae include a iirst lamina extending from said upper margin about one-half the length of said deiiector and a second lamina extending from said margin about one-third the length of said deflector.

4. A mud deilector for vertical mounting behind the rear road-wheels of a truck, semi-trailer, or the like vehicle, comprising: a laminous structure of polyester resin-reinforced brous glass material having a front surface for confronting such road-wheels and a rear surface opposite therefrom, said mud deilector including an upper laterally extending margin having means to facilitate mounting said deflector in operative relationship with respect to such road-wheels, a lower panel of said deiector being angularly disposed with respect to said upper margin and carrying a portion of said front surface in an attitude sloping away from such road-wheels, said lower panel having a bottom margin shaped in a rearwardly extending stiffening conformation terminating in a plane removed from the path of projectiles propelled rearwardly by such road-wheels.

5. The mud deliector defined in claim 4 wherein said stitfening Conformation comprises a laterally extending curved marginal portion curved rearwardly from said lower panel.

6. A mud deliector for vertical mounting behind the rear road-wheels of a truck, semi-trailer or the like vehicle, comprising: a laminous structure of polyester resin-reinforced librous glass materials having -a front surface for confronting such road-wheels and a rear surface opposite therefrom, said mud deector including an upper panel provided with an upper margin having means to facilitate mounting said delector on such vehicle in operative relationship with respect to its road-wheels, said upper panel being inclined with respect to said margin so that when said margin is secured vertically to such vehicle, said upper panel slips away from such road-wheels, a lower panel of said deilector being inclined with respect to said upper panel in t e same direction with respect to said margin, said lower panel having a bottom laterally eX- tending margin curving rearwardly into a stiffening portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,051,508 8/62 Federspiel 2SC-154.5 3,116,072 12/63 Robb 280-154.5

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Examiner. 

1. A MUD DEFLECTOR FOR VERTICAL MOUNTING BEHIND THE REAR ROAD-WHEELS OF A TRUCK, SEMI-TRAILER, OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A BONDED LAMINOUS STRUCTURE OF POLYESTER RESINREINFORCED FIBROUS GLASS MATERIAL HAVING A FRONT SURFACE FOR CONFRONTING SUCH ROAD-WHEELS AND A REAR SURFACE OPPOSITE THEREFROM, SAID FRONT SURFACE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SMOOTH THROUGHOUT AND FORMED FROM A FIBROUS GLASS MAT MATERIAL SO AS TO AFFORD MINIMUM RESISTANCE TO THE RUNOFF OF LIQUIDS, MUD, OR THE LIKE FOR OBVIATING THE BUILDUP OF ROAD DEPOSITS THEREON, SAID REAR SURFACE BEING FORMED FROM A WOVEN FIBROUS GLASS MATERIAL, SAID DEFLECTOR INCLUDING AN UPPER, LATERALLY EXTENDING MARGIN HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN TO RECEIVE FASTENER MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT OF SAID DEFLECTOR IN OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH SUCH ROAD-WHEELS, AND AT LEAST ONE REINFORCING LAMINA OF FIBROUS GLASS MAT MATERIAL ARRANGED IN THE UPPER AREA OF SAID MUD DEFLECTOR BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND REAR SURFACES AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID UPPER MARGIN TO IMPART STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS THERETO FOR RESISTING DEFORMATION OF SAID DEFLECTOR IN THE WIND STREAM. 